Mail marking machine fob sheets



May '26, 1953 H. 1.. LAMBERT MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS OR TAPES .7Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1948 INVENTOR Harry L. Lambert May 26, 1953H. L. LAMBERT MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS 0R TAPES Filed Feb. 6,1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hal-1 L.Lambert r vs May 26, 1953 H. L.LAMBERT MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS 0R TAPES Filed Feb. 6, 1948 '7Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR' Harry Lllameri BY A p TEY5 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 H.L. LAMBERT MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS OR TAPES AirIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII y \\\MMM\ Q? Q u 1mm INVENTOR y LLamEerZ' m ATTJRZZp QWN v U May 26,. 1 953 Filed Feb. 6, 19.48

ms o May 26, 1953 H. L. LAMBERT 9,

MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS 0R TAPES Filed Feb. 6, 1948 7Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR H 777 L.Lambert BY y 6, 1953 H. LAMBERT2,639,665

MAI/L MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS OR-TAPES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 6,1948 0 I 8 5 7 M. O u 9. w m m u 9 w mu m, 7 r 8 9 6 w 8 m h W l ag'yl;L "F May 26, 1953 LLAMBERT 2,639,665

MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS OR TAPES I Filed Feb. 6, 194a 'rSheets-Sheet '7 Han" L Lambert gagjlazmw w ATTORN Ys Patented May 26,1953 MAIL MARKING MACHINE FOR SHEETS R TAPES Harry L. Lambert,Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Commercial Controls Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,762

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mail treating machines, and more specificallyto a machine for imprinting postage values either on flat mailingpieces, such as envelopes, or cards, or on gummed tape.

Apparatus of the nature under consideration herein has attained asubstantial degree of commercial acceptance. Such machinery is, in manycases, characterized by a conveying device adapted to transport anenvelope or post-card into printing register with a printing head whichoperates to print a pro-selected postage value on the envelope or card.Thereafter the conveying mechanism again operates to eject the printedenvelope or card from the machine into a hopper. Such machine alsoincludes mechanism for printing postage value on gummed tape. However,these machines must be preset for either envelope or tape handlingbefore either operation can be effected.

Tape handling mechanism in such machines is 'of a rather complicated andexpensive nature necessitating a large number of parts which requirecareful assembly and adjustment to function properly. This tape handlingmechanism furthermore is customarily shiftable between operative andinoperative conditions or positions by means of a manually operablemachine or button accessible from the exterior of the machine. Hence itfollows that unless such lever or button is properly set prior tooperation, the desired result cannot-"be attained. The fact that suchtape handling mechanism is shiftable between operative and inoperativeconditions or positions adds to the over-all complexity of themechanism, with the result that this portion of the machine notinfrequently requires repair or adjustment.

Certain types of machines capable of printing postage on tape include asa part of the tape handling mechanism apparatus for retracting the tapefrom rest position into printing register prior to the printingoperation, reliance being placed on the operation of the printingmechanism for advancing and ejecting printed tape. These factors furtherresult in structural complexities and operational disadvantages that arereflected in increased procurement and maintenance cost to the user.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a mailtreating machine of the above nature which is relatively simple andinexpensive in construction, and which is capable of extended reliableoperation. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointedout hereinafter.

In accordance with one form of my invention. the machine comprises apower unit and a meter which may be relatively separable or not, asdesired. The power unit includes mechanism for conveying an envelope orpostcard into and out of'printing position relative to the printing headof the meter, and also tape conveying mechanism for similarlytransporting gummed tape. In accordance with one of the importantfeatures of my invention, the tape handling mechanism is always inoperative position or condition and imparts unidirectional motion to the1 tape during the cycle of operation. The meter "ischaracterized by afixed printing head overlying a platen disposed in the power unit, the

. fplaten being so mounted that it is reciprocable relative to theprinting head and accordingly capable of pressing the envelope or tape,as the case may be, against the printing head to be printed thereby.

In the drawing, wherein I have shown one form of my invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the machine;

- Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine, taken along the line2-2 of Figure 3; I Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontalsection taken along the line '33 of Figur 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken trating details of theplaten and tape shearing mechanism; and Figure 9 is a rear elevation ofthe power unit v control mechanism, portions thereof being broken away;

erall'y indicated at 2|.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts'throughout the viewsof the drawing.

General description .With reference to Figure 1, the machine compriseslameter generally indicated at 20, which is supported on and driven by apower unit gen- I The power unit is conveniently provided with a door22, for the access opening of the power unit housing 23. The top of thehousing conveniently provides a platform or'support for pieces of mailsuch as envelopes It might here be noted that iii certain re spects,meter 25 may resemble that shown in my co-pending application Serial No.732,982, filed March 7, 1947, meter differing, however, in one importantrespect, in that it employs a stationary printing head rather than therotary printing head on the meter in said application.

Letter printing operation When envelope E (Figure 2) is hand-fed intoopening with the rear edge of the envelope in engagement with the rearedge of the opening, the leading edge of the envelope engages a finger2'1 fastened to and extending upwardly from an arm 28 securedto a shaft29. This shaft is under the constant counterclockwisebias of a spring 30which accordingly tends .tomaintain the arm and finger in its solid lineposition. However, as envelope E is slid along-the top of housing 23within opening 25, it rocks finger 2'1 and accordingly arm 28 to thebroken line position, thus rocking shaft 29 clockwise. This-movement ofthe shaft trips the driving mechanism of the machine, causing apreselected postage value to be printed on the envelope. Thereafter theconveying mechanism is automatically ac tuated to convey the stampedenvelope out-of the machine, all as will now be described.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, shaft 29 extends from the front tothe rear of the machine. On'the rear end of shaft 29 is fastened. a cam3i (see Figure 9) which carries a. pin 32. Cam. 3| coacts with a camroller 33 mounted. on a bar 34 carried by a headed pin 35, extendingthrough a slot 35 in the bar. Pin 35 is threaded into a plate 57 andaccordingly mounts bar 34 for vertical movement as well as pivotalmovement about the axis of the pin. The upper end of bar at isconstantly pulled against a cam 33 by a spring 39, one end of which isfastened to the bar, and the other end of which is conveniently fastenedto a bracket 49 secured to the back plate of the machine. It may now .beseen that when finger 2'? and arm 28 (Figure 2) are rocked to the dottedline position by thEll'lSF3ltion of envelope E, cam 3| is rockedcountenclockwise as viewed in Figure 9 to raise bar 3,4

vertically.

Finger Ell (Figure 2) in addition to acting as a trip for the drivingmechanism'of the "machine, also acts as a stop properly topositionenvelope E in printing register with printing head 25a of themeter. To this end, pin'32 (Figure 9) on cam 3| is so positionedrelative to the hooked end it of a lever 4| pivotally mounted on plate31, as to engage the hooked end when finger 27 reaches its dotted line,Figure 2, position, wherein it acts as a stop for envelope E. During theprinting operation, lever 4| (Figural?) is rocked clockwise, in a mannerto be described, against the bias of a spring 42, so that its hooked end40 swings upwardly away-from pin 32. This permits continuedcounterclockwise movement of cam 3 l, and accordingly permits finger 21(Figure 2) to continue its clockwise movement, thus to clear the path ofenvelope E as it is conveyed out of the machine after being stamped.

When bar 34 (Figure 9) is raised, as described, a shoulder 340: on thebar which underlies a pivoted latch 43, raises the latch sufficiently toclear a roller 44 carrie fd on the end 45 of an L-shaped arm 45. Thisarm is pivotally mounted on a headed pin 47, and is constantly biasedclockwise by a spring 48. The upper end 49 of arm 46 -mounts ,a, roller50 adapted to engage over and.

hold down a lever 5|. This lever is fastened to a stud shaft 52, whichalso carries a pawl 53, as well as a pin '54, stud shaft 52 beingpivotally mounted on the driven element of a one revolution clutch,generally indicated at 553. One end Ora-spring 51 is fastened to clutchelement the other end of this spring being secured to pin 54, thus tobias stud shaft 52 and accordingly lever 5| and pawl 53counterclockwise. It may now be seen that whenL-shaped lever 46 isrocked clockwise, as described, roller 56 is drawn away from lever 5|,thus freeing the lever and permitting spring 51 to rock it, togetherwith pawl 53, counterclockwise until pawl 53 engages ratchet 58comprising a portion of the driving element of clutch 5B. Thus when thepawl and ratchet engaga-a shaft 59 fastened to driven element 55 isrotated.

Shaft 59 carries cam 38 and also a gear 60, meshing with a gear 5|fastened to a shaft 52. This shaft 62 is the main drive shaft for theenvelope conveyor, the'tape feeding mechanism and the printing platen,all as will be hereinafter described.

When l..-shaped lever 45 is rocked clockwise, as hereinbefore described,its lower end engages the lower end 63'of a lever pivotally mounted onaheadedpin 65. Lever 64 includes a finger i6 projecting horizontally ina mannerto close microswitch generally indicated'at 61 when lever 64 isrocked clockwise by lever 46. Cl0s ing of switch 6'! completes thecircuit to a motor 53(Figure 3) which, by way of suitablereduction'gearing, drives a gear 69 (Figure 9), comprising with ratchet58, the driving element of clutch 55. Thus itfollows that by the timeswitch 51 is closed, the clutch is engaged and accordingly effects adriving connection between the motor and the various operatingmechanisms of the machine.

After the clutch has been engaged and'the motor energized, clutchelement 55 accordingly rotates clockwise and carries with it a pin 10whichis so located in relation to lever end 19 as to engage roller 50carried thereby after the clutch element has rotated approximately 180.

When-the pin and roller thus engage, lever .6 is rocked counterclockwiseto its Figure 9 position, wherein itis'held by latch 63. Latch 43 ispermitted to'drop by virtue of the fact that bar "34 was pivotedclockwise by the action of cam clutch 55, a holding lever (I isprovided. This "lever isfpivotally mounted on a headed pin 12 andincludes an upper end 13 adapted to engage element 55. The lower end I5of lever II' is adapted to engage the upper end 8412 of lever 64 whenthe clutch is engaged. Thus upon engagement of the clutch, its drivenelement 55 rotates as described, forcing lever end I3 out of notch I4,thus rocking the lever counterclockwise so that its lower end I5 assumesa holding position wherein it maintains lever 64 in its clockwiseposition, wherein switch 61 is closed. Upon completion of one revolutionof the clutch, lever end I3 drops into notch I4 by reason of the bias ofa spring I8, thus withdrawing lever end I5 and permitting lever 64 toreturn to the position shown in Figure 9.

Where an envelope of extraordinary length is to be stamped, it may bedesirable to maintain switch 8'! closed, and accordingly motor 68energized, a somewhat longer time, to assure an extended operation ofthe letter conveying mechanism. To this end, I have provided a lever 'IIpivotally mounted on a headed pin 18. End 11a of this lever is adaptedto be engaged and lifted by another cam I9 mounted on shaft 29. Whenthis occurs, lever 11, of course, rocks counterclockwise, causing theother end I'Ib thereof to move into closing position with respect toswitch 81 and hold the switch closed as long as cam I9 underrides leverI141. The cam will, of course, stay in this position as long as finger2! (Figure 2) underrides envelope E passing thereover.

It should be noted that finger 21 cannot be swung beyond its broken line(Figure 2) position by the overriding envelope E until hook 48 (Figure9) disengages pin 32. The hook disengages the pin, however, shortlyafter clutch 56 is engaged as cam 38 rocks lever 4I clockwise andaccordingly lock lever 4| clockwise, by virtue of its arm 4Ia, whichengages the side of the bar.

As the foregoing description of the mechanism shown in Figure 9 forms nopart of my present invention, the description thereof is general and forthe purpose of describing the manner in which the conveyor mechanism,the tape mechanism and the printing platen are driven. For a moredetailed description of the Figure-9 apparatus, reference is made to myaforementioined copending application.

Printing platen As shown in Figure 3, housing 23 includes a front plate23a, and encloses a partition plate I9 in which plates main drive shaft62 is journaled. Between these plates shaft 82 carries a gear 88 whichmeshes with, so as to drive, a gear BI. yoke 82 is rockably mounted onshaft 82 between gear 88 and a boss 83 which carries the forward end ofshaft 62. Yoke 82 includes a cross bar 84, to which the upper end of aspring 85 (Figure 4) is secured. The lower end of this spring isconnected to a bracket 86 fastened to and extending upwardly from thebottom plate 23!) of housing 23.

The yoke ends 81 and 88 (Figures 3 and 8) rotatably support therespective ends 89 and 98 of a crank 9| on the throw 92 of which iscarried a platen 93 (see also Figure 4). End 89 of the crank alsocarries gear 8|, referred to hereinabove. A pin 94 is fastened to theinner side of platen 93 and projects therefrom between a pair ofvertical guide rails 95 and 98. It may now be seen, with reference toFigure 4, that when gear 88 is driven, meshing gear 8I rotates crank 9I.It follows that the curved surface 930:. of platen 93, when positivelydriven by crank 9I and guided by pin 94 between rails 85 and 96,

6 successively engages all points of printing head 28a so that a uniformimprint is made on the envelope Or tape, as the case may be. For a moredetailed description of this type of rocking platen, reference is madeto Kellogg 1,477,128.

When the machine is at rest, platen 93 is spaced from the bottom surfaceof printing head 28a, as shown in Figure 4, to provide room for theinsertion of an envelope or tape between the platen and printing head. Ihave found it preferable to elevate the envelope or tape to a positionimmediately adjacent the printing surface of printing head 28a beforethe printing operation, and to this end I provide a pressure plate,generally indicated at 91. As shown in Figure 8, pressule plate 91includes a rear wall 98 and a top supporting wall 99, which lies betweenthe printing head and platen. The top wall of the pressure plate issubstantially coextensive with opening 25 (Figure 2). As shown in Figure7, the left-hand end of pressure plate side wall 98 has a pair ofextending tabs I88 and NI, which are respectively pivotally connected tolinks I82 and I83, which links are in turn pivotally mounted within themachine housing. These links accordingly constitute a parallel motion.whereby pressure plate 91 may be driven tothe dotted line position shownin Figure '7.

This movement of the pressure plate is effected by a cam I84 mounted ondrive shaft 62 and a follower I carried on the free end of a pivoted armI86, fastened to the pressure plate and biased clockwise by a springI8'I. Thus when shaft 82 drives cam I84, the high portion of the camtends to rock arm I86 counterclockwise. Spring I81, however, resistssuch movement of the link and accordingly pressure plate is elevated.Thus it may be seen that arm I86 and spring I8I constitute a resilientdriving connection between the pressure plate and cam so that envelopesof varying thickness are readily accommodated. In other words, if anenvelope of unusual bulkiness is inserted between the top of thepressure plate and the bottom of the printing head, there might beinsufficient room for the pressure plate to rise the full amount of thehigh portion of cam I84. The difference is taken up by counterclockwiserocking of arm I86 relative to the pressure plate and stretching ofspring I8'I. To maintain follower I85 in engagement with cam I84, aspring I88 fastened respectively to the pressure plate and to the bottom23!) of the housing is provided.

Conveyor system As noted hereinbefore, the machine includes an envelopeconveying mechanism or system which functions subsequent to the printingoperation to eject the envelope from the machine. This conveyingmechanism includes a pair of rollers I88 and I89 (Figure 4) the formerof which rotates constantly during a complete cycle of operation, andthe latter of which rotates during only a portion of the cycle. Thesetwo rollers respectively underlie pressure rollers I I8 and I I I, whichare spring-biased downwardly to press the envelope against the lowerrollers when the envelope lies therebetween.

Roller I88 (Figure 3) is fastened to a shaft II2 journaled in plates 23aand I9, and carries on its inner end a pulley II3. About this pulley istrained a belt II4 which forms a driving connection between pulley H3and a motor driven pulley I I5. Pulley I I5 is mounted on a shaft 'I I8,

which shaft carries a worm gear III meshing with a worm (not shown)secured to motor shaft 7 H8. Thus it may be seen that. as long as motor68 runs, roller I08 will rotate.

As noted above, roller I09 (Figure 4) rotates during only a portion ofthe cycle of operation, and this for the reason that the envelope must,of course, remain stationary beneath the printing head during theprinting operation. Accordingly roller I09 is provided with a flat I09a,the surface of which is flush with the surface of the pressure plate topwall 99 while the roller is stationary. This roller I is mounted on ashaft I I 9 (see Figure 3) journaled in plates 23a and 19. Cu the innerend of this shaft is fastened a gear I which comprises the driven end ofa gear train including meshing gears I2I and I22 and a mutilated gearI23 (see Figure 6). Gear I23 is mounted on main drive shaft 82, andaccordingly rotates therewith when the shaft is driven as described.

When the motor is energized, as heretofore described, to drive shaft 62,mutilated gear I23 is driven counterclockwise. Thus it may be seen thatfor a substantial portion of onerevolution of gear I23 it is out of meshwith gear I22, andaccordingly the gear train and roller I09remainmotionless. The operation takes place during this portion of the cycle.When, however, the toothed portion of the mutilated gear ultimatelymeshes with gear I22, the gear train and roller I09 are rotated. Thegear train is so designed that roller I09 makes but a single revolutionduring the operative cycle of the machine. When roller I09 is thusrotated, it revolves clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, thus to move itsfiat I09a from beneath the envelope so that the envelope is engaged atthe nip between rollers I09 and I I I. The envelope is accordingly fedto the right until its leading edge is engaged at the nip betweenrollers I08 and H0, whereupon roller I08 takes over the transportingaction and ejects the envelope from the machine into the hopper.

While printing head 20a may be inked in any suitable manner, Iillustratively provide an ink ribbon I24 (Figure 4) which may beautomatically fed in any suitable manner betweenrollers I25 and I26. Thelower run I24a of ribbon I24 accordingly lies flat and tight against thetype faces of printing head 20a so that a clean and sharp imprint ismade on-the envelope or tape. To guard the envelope against smudgingasit moves beneath and relative to printing head 20a, I have provided aguard plate-I21 (see also Figure 8), having an opening IZ'Ia ofpreferably slightly greater width than the width of platen surface 93a.Guard plate I21 may be supported in any suitable manner, and thus mayhave fastened thereto an upwardly extending pin I28 (see Figure 4) whichextends through 2. lug I29 secured within the machine housing. A nut I30is threaded to the top of pin I28 and accordingly limits the downwardmovement of the. guard. A spring I3I is interposed between the guard andlug I23, and accordingly resiliently resists upward movement of theguard when an envelope is pressed thereagainst by the rising pressureplate 91. As guard opening I2Ia (Figure 8) is of lesser width than theribbon I24, the ribbon is curled upwardly along the edges of the typeface, and printing head 20a when guard I21 is forced up by the envelope.Thus the face of the envelope does not engage ribbon I24 except for thatportion thereof which is pressed against the ribbon by the rising platen93. Hence the envelope may be printed without being smudged. By the sametoken, guardIZIlies between rib- Icon I24 and the envelope after thepressure plate has dropped and during the ejection of the envelope fromthe machine. It accordingly follows that the envelope conveyingmechanism efficiently transports the envelope through the machinewithout the necessity of complicated mechanisms and a multiplication ofparts.

Printing on tape As noted hereinabove, machines of the nature here underconsideration should be capable of printing postage value on gummedtape. To this end, as is shown, in Figure 2, a stationary spindle I32 ismounted within the machine housing and supports a roll of tape I33. Fromthis roll the tape is led between a pair of feed rolls I34 and I35(Figure 4). into, a tape chute I36 which is carried by pressure plate91. Tape chute I36 curves at its upper end, as shown, until it ishorizontal, this horizontal portion of the chute including lower tracksI31 and I33 (Figure 8). These tracks are secured to the under surface ofpressure plate top wall, 99, thus to support the tape beneath an opening99a in top wall 99. The Iongitudinal edges of this opening overlietracks I31 and I38, respectively, and accordingly complete, with thetracks, the horizontal portion of the tap chute. The exit end of thetape chute is formed by a transverse strip or portion I39 (Figure 4) ofpressure plat top wall 99, the under surface of portion I39 beingbeveled as at I39a to facilitate passage of the end of the tape beneaththis portion. The right-hand lower edge of portion I39 convenientlyaffords a cutting edge comprising a part of the tape shearing mechanism,as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 3, tape feed rollers I34 and I35 are mountedrespectively on shafts I40 and MI, these shafts being journaled in anysuitable manner within the machine housing. The inner end of shaft I40carries a gear I42 which meshes with a gear I43 carried by shaft II9.This gear I43, together with a ratchet I44, constitutes the drivenelement of a clutch generally indicated at I45. It should be noted thatgear I43 and ratchet I44 are freely rotatable on shaft H9. The drivingelement of clutch I 45 comprises a hub I46 which i splined to shaft II9so as to rotate therewith and slide axially thereof. Hub I 46 alsoincludes a ratchet portion I41 adapted to engage ratchet I44 when theclutch is engaged. A spring I48 interposed between the driving anddriven elements of the clutch biases the clutch toward disengagedcondition. It may now be seen that hub I46, i. e. the driving element ofthe clutch, rotates with shaft H9 and accordingly drives ratchet I44 andgear I43 when the clutch is engaged. Gear I43 in turn drives gear I42,and accordingly roller I34; this roller, together with roller I35, thusdrive tape I33 (Figure 4) to feed it through chute I36.

Clutch element I46 is slotted as at I49 (see also Figure 5), and thisslot receives the ends I50 and I5I of a yoke I52 pivotally attached to alug I53 secured to and extending from partition plate 19 (see Figure 3).An arm I54 comprises an integral part of yoke I52, and has fastenedthereto a post I55 (Figure 5) to the bottom of which is connected oneend of an actuating rod I56. As shown in Figure. 3, the other end ofthis rod carries a push button I51 which extends through an opening inthe side wall of the machine housing 23 where it is readily accessibleto the operator. It may now be seen that when button I51 is pressed, rodI56 moves to the left, as viewed in Figure 3, to rock yoke I52counterclockwise. This movementof the yokeengage ratchet I41 withratchet I 44, thus engaging the clutch to complete a driving connectionto the tape feed rollers I34 and I35.

To obviate the necessity and inconvenience of the operators maintainingbutton I51 depressed during the printing operation, rod I56 (Figure isprovided with a pin I58 which, when rod I56 is moved to the left, entersbetween a pair of resillent fingers I59 and I66. As the pin passesbetween them, they close in back of the pin and accordingly hold the rodI56 in it clutch engaging position.

To preclude the possibility of undesired successive tape printingoperations, shaft I46, which carries one of the tape feed rollers, alsocarries a cam I6I, the high point I62 of which is adapted to engage afollower I63 carried by a depending portion I66 of rod I56. Thus it maybe seen that as the cam rotates, it high portion ultimately engagesfollower I63, thus forcing rod pin I58 to the right between fingers I59and I66, and accordingly moving rod I56 to its normal position of restshown in Figure 5. This automatic return of the rod accordingly effectsdisengagement of the clutch, which forms the driving connection of thetape feed rolls and thus precludes an undesired successive cycle ofoverfeeding of the tape. Depression of button I51 is also relied on toeffect energization of the motor and tripping of the one revolutionclutch shown in Figure 9. To this end rod I56 carries another pin I65(Figure 5) which is received in a slot I66 formed in one arm I61 of alever I68. The lower end of the other arm I69 of this lever is locatedin the vicinity of a pin I16 carried by trip shaft 29. Thus it followsthat when rod I56 is moved to the left, lever I68 is rockedcounterclockwise so that its lower arm I69 will engage pin I16 and rockthe pin and also shaft 29 clockwise. It will be recalled that thismovement of shaft 29 effects actuation of the mechanism shown in Figure9 to energize the motor and trip the clutch.

Through the provision of rod pins I59 and I65 and the parts associatedtherewith, it will appear that it is impossible to retrip the machineuntil one operative cycle is completed. Thus undesired successiveprinting operations are effectively prevented, and the risk of wastingpostage is eliminated.

Tape shearing device After the postage value has been printed on thetape, the tape feeding mechanism hereinbefore described functions tofeed tape from the supply roll and accordingly eject the printed end ofthe tape from beneath the printing head. The feed rolls are proportionedto feed just the desired amount of tape so that only the printed portionthereof extends beyond the end of the tape chute. This printed tape endmust, of course, be cut off so that it can be ejected from the machineby the ejector roller I68. I have accordingly provided a tape shearingmechanism which includes a blade I1I (Figure 8) pivotally attached, asby a pin I12, to the end of pressure plate 91. Blade I1I is shown in itsposition of rest in Figure 8, from which it is swung upwardly at theproper time to shear tape I33 against the lower right-hand edge oftransverse portion I39 of pressure plate top wall 99 (see Figure 4).

To actuate blade IN, a lever I13 (Figure 3) is pivotally fastened to itsfree end, this lever being secured to a shaft I14, but freely rotatable10 relative thereto. Shaft I14 is rotatably carried by the housing wall.Fastened to this shaft, so as to rotate therewith, is a second leverI15, to the lower end of which is pivotally attached an actuating rOdI16. Lever I15 (Figure 8) carries an extended arm I15a. which underrideslever I13 and constitutes the actuating means for lever I13, aswill'appear hereinafter. As shown in Figure 2, the left-hand end of thisrod is slotted as at I11, this end of the rod also carrying a camfollower I18 adapted to engage the surface of a cam I19 mounted on, soas to rotate with tape, feed. roll shaft I46. Shaft I14 has secured Vthereto so as to rock therewith a third lever I86,

to the lower end of which is fastened one end of a spring IBI. The otherend of this spring is attached to a pin I82, suitably mounted within themachine housing. Spring I6I thus biases lever I86 and accordingly shaftI14 and lever I15 clockwise, which maintains follower I16 in engagementwith cam I19.

It may now be seen that when cam I19 rotates as it does during the tapefeeding portion of the cycle, it drives follower I18 and accordingly rodI16 to the right. This movement of the rod swings levers I15 and I86counterclockwise, and accordingly tensions spring I8I. As lever I15swings counterclockwise, its arm I15a drops and lever I13, being freelyrotatable on shaft I14, drops with it. Ultimately cam I19 will rotate tothe point where follower I16 drops OK the high portion of the cam. Whenthis occurs, spring I8I, whose tension has been substantially increased,rapidly rocks lever I and accordingly lever I15 clockwise. This causeslever arm I15 to snap upwardly and accordingly impart rapid clockwisemovement to lever I13. This movement of lever I13 swings blade I1Iupwardly with sufficient rapidity that the momentum of the blade carriedit past the edge of portion I39 (Figure 4) of the pressure plate topwall, and accordingly shears the tape. The blade returns to its Figure 2position of rest by gravity.

I claim:

1. In a mail treating machine, in combination, a printing head, an inkedribbon for inking said printing head, guard means underlying a portionof said ribbon and acting to support it in close proximity to saidprinting head, a platen, means for eifecting relative movement of saidprinting head and said platen toward and away from one another to printon an article placed therebetween, a support for an article to beprinted upon by said printing head, means mounting said support betweensaid printing head and platen for movement relative thereto, meansforming a driving connection between said second-mentioned means andsaid support for moving said support toward said printing head prior tothe printing operation, thereby to position the article to be printed inproper printing register relative to said printing head and platen, andmeans mounting said guard means for movement relative to said printinghead and in a position to be engaged by said support when said supportmoves toward said printing head.

2. In a mail treating machine, in combination, a type face, a platen,means mounting said platen for movement toward and away from said typein a manner to impress a gummed tape to be printed thereagainst, meansfor effecting said movement of said platen, a supporting plate having anopening therein and including a tape chute extending beneath saidopening and adapted to receive and support said tape, said aeaaees platebeing disposed between said type face and said platen, means mountingsaid plate for movement toward and away from said type face, means foreffecting said movement of said plate, driving means connected to bothof said movement effecting means for first moving said plate toward saidtype face and then moving said platen toward said type face and thenmoving both the plate and platen away from said type face, whereby saidplaten and said plate are moved toward and away from said type faceduring such printing cycle, a tape feeding mechanism adapted totransport tape ti) and from the printing position relative to said typeface, and means forming a driving connection between said driving meansand said tape feeding means for effecto eration of said tape feedingmeans automatica lly subse uent to the printing operation to transportthe printed tape from the printing position.

3. In a mail treating machine, in combination, a stationary type face, aplaten means mounting said platen including a pivot and a'guide to movetoward and away from said type face in a manner to impress an article tobe imprinted" thereagainst, means for effecting the movement of saidplaten, a supporting plate adapted to re- 'ceive and support the articleto be printed, said plate being disposed between said type face andsaidplaten, means mounting said plate for movement tcward and away fromsaid type face, means for effecting said movement of said plate, and

12 driving means connected to both of said movement effecting means forfirst moving said plate toward said type face and then moving saidplaten toward said type face and then moving both the plate and platenaway from said type face thereby to carry the article to be printed to aposition adjacent said type face wherein said platen may force sucharticle thereagainst, said pivot being associated with said drivingmeans whereby said driving means causes said platen to rock about theaxis of said pivot while said guidin means confines movement of theplaten toward and away from said type face to a rectilinear movement. I

HARRY L. LAMBERT.

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